Sweetwater’s student housing construction boom is gaining even more momentum, following the recent groundbreaking of Tech Tower. On the morning of October 15, Global City Development and Gilu Development officially broke ground on the 23-story apartment tower located at 10941 SW 7th Street, where foundation work is already underway. The project marks Global City Development’s third collaboration in Sweetwater, following the successful completion of The Lapis and The One: two student housing projects in close proximity to Florida International University.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured key figures from the development team along with Sweetwater Mayor Jose “Pepe” Diez. First reported by WhatNow Miami, Shawmut Design and Construction will partner with the developers to oversee construction.
Tech Tower will feature 517 workforce-oriented apartments, along with 2,923 SF of ground-floor retail space. The building’s multi-story podium will also provide substantial parking for residents and visitors, rising more than 5 floors. The project received approval from the City of Sweetwater in early 2024, originally calling for 170 apartments (678 beds) and 4,202 SF of commercial space. Since then, the plans have been significantly revised.
Amenities will range from a lounge, a pool on both the podium deck and the rooftop, as well as a club room. There will be around 28,000 SF of space dedicated to amenities.
According to Miami-Dade County permitting records, several permits have already been approved, including misc permits like fire sprinklers. A general construction permit, however, remains pending. The filings list the project’s estimated value at over $100 million, with a total building area of 704,379 SF.
Tech Tower will be the second high-rise to break ground in Sweetwater this year alone. Just last month, Casa at FIU, a 297-unit development, broke ground at 10710 SW 5th Street. The development is being spearheaded by WFHP LLC and RAL Companies. Developers such as those behind Casa at FIU and Tech Tower have increasingly turned their attention to Sweetwater due to the city’s relaxed zoning regulations and the growing demand for student housing.